They rigged the engines by enhancing the performance of electric bicycles, but the police exposed them. The agents of the Financial Police and the local police seized 295 pedal-assisted electric bicycles, reporting a Pakistani and an Indian citizen for fraud in the exercise of the trade.
The one that just happened in Verona represents the largest seizure of e-bikes carried out at sales points across the entire national territory. As clarified by the police, it concerns the conclusion of a joint info-investigative activity, aimed at repression of violations relating to the undue marketing of products subject to the CE marking, which made it possible to identify two commercial businesses dedicated to the sale of e-bikes.
Pedal-assisted electric bicycles are subject to the European Directive 2006/42/EC (so-called Machinery Directive) which regulates their production through procedures to guarantee the conformity, safety and health protection requirements essential for their placing on the market, which must be accompanied by documentation proving regularity.
A seizure worth 300 thousand euros
But the seized e-bikes lacked the mandatory documentation, as well as having enhanced engines and performance. The vehicles were therefore seized, with an estimated value of around 300,000 euros, as well as administrative sanctions of around 11,400 euros connected to numerous violations of the Highway Code and provisions relating to the commerce sector.
Furthermore, the Financial Police and the Police have sent reports to Spisal and the Installations sector of the Municipality of Verona for structural and safety deficiencies in the workplace and to the Privacy Guarantor for irregularities in the video surveillance systems.
